Dispensing of viscous material

ABSTRACT

A dispensing mechanism places a predetermined quantity of a highly viscous paste into successive articles, such as battery grids. A constant level of the paste is maintained in a cylindrical dispensing cup of the mechanism, which has a gridlike bottom formed of radially disposed wires. The paste flows out of the grid-like bottom of the cup during vibration of the cup. When the vibration stops, the flow of the paste through the wires also stops. Thus, a convenient mechanism is provided for controlling the amount of paste dispensed.

Unite States Patet 1191 Haller et a1.

[ Oct. 15, 1974 [541 DISPENSING 0F VISCOUS MATERlAL 2,433684 12/1947 Damond' 222/196 X I 3,140,016 7/1964 Frazel l. 222/196 [75] lnvemors- Albeit W John 3,259,272 7/1966 Larson 222/196 x Larkm Llttleneckl Rlchard 3,333,537 8/1967 Proskaver 222/199 x Walters, Watchung, all ot NJ. 73] Assignee: Western Electric Company Primary Emmin@r-L0uiS e.

Incorporated, N w Y k, N Y Assistant Examiner-Charles E. Phillips A Y 1 Filed: Oct. 1973 tt0rne ,Agen1, or Firm R Y Peters, P J Tr1bulsk1 21 Appl. No.: 408,706 57 ABSTRACT Related US. Application Data A dispensing mechanism places a predetermined [62] Division of $61. No. 178,133, Sept. 7, 1971, Pat. No. quantity of a highly viscqus Paste i Successive 3 7g2 595 cles, such as battery gr1ds. A constant level of the paste is maintained in a cylindrical dispensing cup of [52] US. Cl. 141/32, 141/240 the mechanism, hi h a gri -like ot m formed [51] Int. Cl. H01m 7/00 of lly i po ire The paste flows out of the 153] Field 01 Search 222/196, 189; 141/32, 33, grid-like bottom of the cup during vibration of the 141/74, 240 cup. When the vibration stops, the flow of the paste through the wires also stops; Thus, a convenient [56] Referenc s Cit d mechanism is provided for controlling the amount of UNITED STATES PATENTS Paste dispensed- 2,l74,348 9/1939 Damond 222/196 6 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures if 32 1 gy o-+0111 PAIENIED on 151914 SHEET t 0F 6 Fla-4 1 1' mw m PIQIIII PATENIED am 1 Si n SHEET 6 BF 6 DISPENSING OF VISCOUS MATERIAL This is a division, of application Ser. No. 178,133 filed Sept. 7, 1971 now US. Pat. No. 3,782,595.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The invention relates to dispensing of material. More particularly, the invention relates to the dispensing of controlled quantities of viscous pasty material.

2. Description of the Prior Art The introduction and development of cylindrical lead-acid batteries of the type described in US. Pat. No. 3,434,833, issued to L. D. Babusci et al. on Mar. 25, 1969, has resulted in a need for refined manufacturing techniques which have heretofore not been available. Previous designs of battery grids were quite amenable to conventional pasting techniques. However, the conical configuration of the battery grids illustrated in the subject patent results in a set of peculiar problems.

These problems are further complicated by the nature of the battery paste utilized in the subject cylindri ca] batteries. This paste, tetra-basic lead sulfate, is a highly successful material for purposes of contributing to long life of the cylindrical batteries. However, the paste is an extremely difficult substance to handle from a battery-manufacturing point of view.

It is desirable to place a precise amount of the paste onto a battery grid just prior to the time that the battery grid is subjected to a pasting operation of the sort which is described in patent application Ser. No. 831,001, filed in the names of H. E. Durr and A. H. Haller on June 6, 1969 and assigned to the assignee of record of this application.

Obviously, a proper quantity of paste can be placed on the grids manually. But manual dispensing of paste is cumbersome and uneconomical and, therefore, undesirable in a well-designed manufacturing scheme.

Other conventional dispensing mechanisms are usually capable of placing only an undistributed glob of the paste material onto-a grid. Such an undistributed quantity of material presents difficulties in the pasting operation disclosed in the aforementioned patent application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, therefore, an object of this invention to efficiently dispense material.

It is another object of this invention to provide a system for dispensing a controlled quantity of viscous material onto an article.

It is a further object of the invention to accomplish such dispensing of a material in such a way that the material is uniformly distributed across the surface of the article.

These objects are achieved by holding a volume of the material in a hopper having a grid portion with openings therein small enough to preclude free flow of the material therethrough when the material is statically held in the hopper. but with the openings large enough to permit flow of the material when the material is subjected to vibration.

The grid-like portion of the hopper is engaged with the article and the material is vibrated for a predetermined period of time. At the cessation of the vibration the hopper is rotated to shear away the material remaining in the hopper from the material which has been dispensed onto the article.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other objects and features of the present invention will be more readily understood from the following detailed description of specific embodiments thereof, when read in conjunction with the appended drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an overall elevational view of the inventive dispensing apparatus;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view, with various portions removed for purposes of clarity, illustrating tive dispensing apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view of a lower portion of the apparatus of FIG. 2 with additional portions removed for purposes of clarity;

FIGS. 4 through 8 are sectional views taken alongthe lines 4-4 of FIG. 3 illustrating a sequence of steps employed by the apparatus of FIG. 1 to accomplish a desired dispensing of material onto an article;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along the lines 9-9 of FIG. 3 showing a desirable arrangement of wires forming a bottom of the apparatus of FIG. 2;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along the lines 1010 of FIG. 3 showing the wires of FIG. 9 at a location further from the center of the apparatus; 7

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the apparatus of FIG. 2 taken along the line 1 1-1 1 showing a rotating mechanism; and

FIG. 12 is an illustration of a cam profile taken along the lines 12l2 of FIG. 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Illustratively, the invention is described in connection with dispensing viscous paste electrolyte onto battery grids. However, it is to be understood that this is only for purposes of explanation and that the invention has utility in dispensing various other materials.

Referring now to FIG. 1 there is shown one embodiment of the invention, a dispensing machine, desigthe invennated generally by the numeral 20. The machine 20 is positioned below a bulk feeder 22 which operates through a conventional level control system (not shown) to maintain a predetermined level of battery paste 21 within the dispensing machine 20. Battery grids 24 are successively indexed to a position beneath the dispensing machine 20 on a linear conveyor, designated generally by the numeral 26.

GENERAL OPERATION A cycle of operation begins when one of the grids 24 is positioned beneath the dispensing mechanism '20. A dispensing hopper or cup, designated generally by the numeral 28, containing the battery paste 21 is lowered into engagement-with the grid 24, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4. After the cup 28 is engaged with the grid 24, a conventional pneumatic vibrator 32 (FIG. 3) is actuated with a valve 33. The vibrational energy of the vibrator 32 is principally coupled to the battery paste 21 through coupling rods 34. Vibratory energy is also introduced through the body of the cup 28.

As the paste 21 is vibrated, it flows out, as shown in FIG. 5, between strand-like members or wires 36 which form a grid-like bottom for the cup 28.

The grid 24 is supported on'the conveyor 26 with a layer of conventional filter paper 37' betweenthe grid and the conveyor. The filter paper 37 permits air to be expelled out of the grid 24 and through holes in the conveyor 26 during the paste dispensing process.

After a predetermined amount of time, the vibrator 32 is turned off and the flow of the paste 2] through the spaces between the wires 36 stops. The cup 28 is then rotated approximately As a result of the rotation, that portion of the paste 21 which is partially out of the cup 28 but not fully in the grid 24 is sheared by the wires 36. This shearing action is illustrated in FIG. 6. After the shearing is completed, the cup 28 is raised away slightly from the surface of the grid 24, as shown in FIG. 7. Spring retaining members 38 remain in contact with the grid 24 assuring that the grid remains in place against the conveyor 26 during the initial lifting of the cup 28.

FIG. 8 illustrates the cup 28 lifted completely away from the grid 24 and the conveyor 26 thus representing a completion of a dispensing cycle. There is sufficient clearance between the cup 28 and the grid 24 to permit removal of the grid and replacement with a subsequent grid in anticipation of another dispensing cycle.

when the cup isheld in a static state. The wires 36, however, must be far e riough apajt so that when the vibrator 32 imparts vibrational energy to the paste 21 there results a desired flow of the paste through the wires.

It 18 also desirable to achieve substantially equal spacing between adjacent ones of the wires 36 across the entire bottom area of the cup 28. Such equality of spacing is achieved by arranging alternate ones of the wires 36 on two different planes.

As shown in FIG. 9, the center support member 44 is provided with short slots 46 and long slots 48. The long and short slots alternate with one another around the support member 44. When FIG. 9 is compared with FIG. 10, it can be seen that a spacing d between adjacent wires is substantially the same. Even though the lateral distance between the wires 36 is greater near the outer edge of the cup 28, the vertical distance between the wires diminishes near the edge. The net result of the changes in distance is balanced to achieve a zero effect on the critical dimension d. The dimension d is, of course, representative of the space through which the paste 21 must flow. The

paste 21 therefore, flows out of the cup 28 at substantially the same rate across the entire bottom area of the cup.

By way of example, it has been found that a cup having an inside diameter of approximately 11 inches and a paste level of approximately one inch will properly dispense battery paste, such as tetra-basic lead sulfate (4PbO-PbSO onto battery grids of the type described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,434,883 issued to L. D. Babusci et al. on Mar. 25, 1969. In the particular exemplary dispensing cup, the'bottom of the cup was formed of sixtyfour wires having a diameter of 0.030 inch. The differ-' ence in length between the short slots 46 and the long slots 48 was approximately 0.375 inch and the center member 44 had a three inch diameter.

sufficient to dispense twenty-one cubic inches of the paste 21.

VERTICAL MOVEMENT OF DISPENSING CUP FIG. 2 illustrates a desirable mechanical arrangement for moving the cup 28 vertically to alternately engage and disengage the cup with successive ones of the grids 24. The cup 28 is mounted to the end of a support sleeve 50. The sleeve 50 is arranged to move slideably and rotatably within a bearing unit 52. A top end of the sleeve 50 is connected to a cylinder actuation plate 54. The plate 54 is, of course, connected to the piston rod 56 of the cylinders 30.

Also engaged with the plate 54 are two alignment rods 58. The alignment rods are arranged to move slideably through alignment bearing assemblies 60. At the lower end of each of the rods 58 there is provided a locator plug 62.

A spring supporting plate 64 is slideably engaged with the alignment rods 58. The plate 64 is spring biased away from the bearing assemblies 60 with compression springs 66. The plate 64 is utilized to support the springs 38 which hold the grid 24 in intimate contact with the conveyor 26.

When the cup assembly 28 is lowered, the plugs 62 at the ends of the rods 58 are the first components to engage with the conveyor 26. The plugs are provided with tapered ends 68 which enter alignment holes 70 on the conveyor 26. This assures that the grid 24 is precisely located on the center line of the cup 28.

As downward motion continues, the springs 38 mounted on the plate 64 become engaged with the grid 24 thus clamping the grid firmly against the conveyor 26. Further downward motion begins compressing the springs 66 and permitting relative motion between the cup 28 and the plate 64 which effectively results in the cup being intimately engaged with the grid 24.

During disengaging motion, the cup 28 and the alignment rods 58 are raised by the cylinders 30 until the locator plug 62 becomes engaged with the plate 64. After such engagement the plate 64 is also carried upwardly with the cup 28.

SHEARING AND DISENGAGEMENT MECHANISM Referring now to FIGS. 1 1, l2 and the upper portion of FIG. 2, there is illustrated a mechanism by which the shearing and initial disengagement steps of FIGS. 6 and 7 are accomplished. The sleeve 50 is provided with a cam ring 72 at the top end thereof. The cam ring 72 is held to the plate 54 by a plurality of cam followers 74. A cylinder 76 is mounted on the plate 54 in such a way that actuation of the cylinder causes rotation of the cam ring 72 and the connected sleeve 50 and cup 28.

When it is desired to shear the paste 21 and initially disengage the cup 28 from the grid 24, the cylinder 76 is actuated. The cam ring 72 is provided with slot profiles therein which are illustrated in FIG. 12. During 15 of rotation of the ring, the cup 28 retains its engaged vertical position and simple shearing takes place as shown in FIG. 6. During a subsequent 15 of rotation, the cam ring72 is lifted at a uniform rate to a distance of approximately M1 inch as shown in FIG. 7. The combined shearing and initial lifting are suitable to disengage the cup 28 cleanly from'the grid 24 into which paste 21 has been dispensed.

It should be noted that throughout the shearing and lifting caused by the actuation of the cylinder 76, there is no motion of the plate 64 which holds the springs 38 down against the grid 24. Thus, there is no tendency for the grid 24 to rise up with the cup 28.

Although certain embodiments of the invention have been shown in the drawings and described in the specification, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto, is capable of modification and can be arranged without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for dispensing a controlled quantity of viscous material into an article, which comprises:

a hopper for the viscous material, said hopper having a grid bottom with openings therein small enough to preclude free flow of the material therethrough when the material is statically held in the hopper, but with said openings large enough to permit flow of said material when the material is subjected to vibration;

means for engaging the bottom of the hopper with the article which is to receive the controlled quantity of the material;

means for vibrating the hopper;

means for operating the vibrating means for a predetermined period of time during the engagement of the hopper bottom with the article to flow the material into the article; and

means, operable after cessation of operation of the vibrating means, for rotating the hopper about an axis extending perpendicularly through the grid bottom to shear the material remaining in the hopper away from the material in the article.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 which further comprises:

means for raising the hopper from the article after a predetermined amount of rotation of the hopper has occurred but while such rotation continues.

3. Apparatus for dispensing a controlled quantity of battery paste into a battery grid, which comprises:

a hopper for the paste, said hopper having a grid-like bottom with openings therein small enough to preclude free flow of the material therethrough when the material is statically held in the hopper, but with said openings large enough to permit flow of 7 said material when the material is subjected to vibration;

means for engaging the bottom of the hopper with the battery grid which is to receive the controlled quantity of paste;

means for vibrating the hopper;

means for operating the vibrating means for a predetermined period of time during such engagement to cause the paste to flow into the grid; and

means, operable after cessation of operation of the vibrating means, for rotating the hopper about an axis extending perpendicularly through the bottom to shear the paste remaining in the hopper away from the paste in the grid.

4. A method for dispensing a desired quantity of viscous material into an article, which comprises the steps of:

holding a volume of the material larger than the desired quantity in a hopper, said hopper having a grid bottom with openings therein small enough to preclude free flow of the material therethrough when the material is statically held in the hopper, but with said openings large enough to permit flow of said material when the material is subjected to vibration;

engaging the bottom of the hopper with the article which is to receive the controlled quantity of the material;

vibrating the hopper for a predetermined period of .time during such engagement to cause the material to flow into the article; and

rotating the hopper at the cessation of the vibrating,

about an axis extending perpendicularly through the grid bottom to shear the material remaining in the hopper away from the material in the article.

5. The method of claim 4 which comprises the further step of:

raising the hopper from the article after a predetermined amount of rotation of the hopper has occurred but while such rotation continues.

6. A method for dispensing a desired quantity of battery paste into a battery grid, which comprises the steps of:

holding a volume of the paste larger than the desired quantity in a hopper, said hopper having a grid-like bottom with openings therein small enough to preclude free flow of the paste therethrough when the paste is statically held in the hopper, but with said openings large enough to permit flow of said paste when the paste is subjected to vibration;

engaging the bottom of the hopper with the battery grid which is to receive the controlled quantity of paste;

vibrating the hopper for a predetermined period of time during such engagement to cause the paste to flow into the grid; and I rotating the hopper, at the cessation of the vibrating, about an axis extending perpendicularly through the bottom to shear the paste remaining in the hopper away from the paste in the grid. 

1. Apparatus for dispensing a controlled quantity of viscous material into an article, which comprises: a hopper for the viscous material, said hopper having a grid bottom with openings therein small enough to preclude free flow of the material therethrough when the material is statically held in the hopper, but with said openings large enough to permit flow of said material when the material is subjected to vibration; means for engaging the bottom of the hopper with the article which is to receive the controlled quantity of the material; means for vibrating the hopper; means for operating the vibrating means for a predetermined period of time during the engagement of the hopper bottom with the article to flow the material into the article; and means, operable after cessation of operation of the vibrating means, for rotating the hopper about an axis extending perpendicularly through the grid bottom to shear the material remaining in the hopper away from the material in the article.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 whiCh further comprises: means for raising the hopper from the article after a predetermined amount of rotation of the hopper has occurred but while such rotation continues.
 3. Apparatus for dispensing a controlled quantity of battery paste into a battery grid, which comprises: a hopper for the paste, said hopper having a grid-like bottom with openings therein small enough to preclude free flow of the material therethrough when the material is statically held in the hopper, but with said openings large enough to permit flow of said material when the material is subjected to vibration; means for engaging the bottom of the hopper with the battery grid which is to receive the controlled quantity of paste; means for vibrating the hopper; means for operating the vibrating means for a predetermined period of time during such engagement to cause the paste to flow into the grid; and means, operable after cessation of operation of the vibrating means, for rotating the hopper about an axis extending perpendicularly through the bottom to shear the paste remaining in the hopper away from the paste in the grid.
 4. A method for dispensing a desired quantity of viscous material into an article, which comprises the steps of: holding a volume of the material larger than the desired quantity in a hopper, said hopper having a grid bottom with openings therein small enough to preclude free flow of the material therethrough when the material is statically held in the hopper, but with said openings large enough to permit flow of said material when the material is subjected to vibration; engaging the bottom of the hopper with the article which is to receive the controlled quantity of the material; vibrating the hopper for a predetermined period of time during such engagement to cause the material to flow into the article; and rotating the hopper at the cessation of the vibrating, about an axis extending perpendicularly through the grid bottom to shear the material remaining in the hopper away from the material in the article.
 5. The method of claim 4 which comprises the further step of: raising the hopper from the article after a predetermined amount of rotation of the hopper has occurred but while such rotation continues.
 6. A method for dispensing a desired quantity of battery paste into a battery grid, which comprises the steps of: holding a volume of the paste larger than the desired quantity in a hopper, said hopper having a grid-like bottom with openings therein small enough to preclude free flow of the paste therethrough when the paste is statically held in the hopper, but with said openings large enough to permit flow of said paste when the paste is subjected to vibration; engaging the bottom of the hopper with the battery grid which is to receive the controlled quantity of paste; vibrating the hopper for a predetermined period of time during such engagement to cause the paste to flow into the grid; and rotating the hopper, at the cessation of the vibrating, about an axis extending perpendicularly through the bottom to shear the paste remaining in the hopper away from the paste in the grid. 